Chapter 25

Matt

Every mess up from the last two weeks rolled through my mind as if on a carousal as I sat on the plane on Wednesday morning. I'd jacked things up with Erica royally, and damn if I didn't try and call her several times after talking to Sophie on Monday only to hang up when her voicemail picked up. There was no way I was apologizing in a message on her phone. It would have been easy, but she and I both knew that was the chicken-shit way of doing things.

Damon and I worked out our differences the day before, and I was glad to be back on even playing ground with him. It wasn't his fault that I was perpetually dicking up my life, but it sure felt good to push it off onto him.

I groaned and pressed my palms to my eyes. Erica has to forgive me. She has to understand.

"No... she doesn't." I ran my fingers down my face as the flight attendant at the front of the private jet gave me an odd look. "I talk to myself all the time." I smiled. "Mostly because I'm the only one that doesn't argue with me."

"Makes sense. I think." She smiled and buckled up. "We're making our descent. We should be on the ground in twenty minutes."

"Awesome." I closed my eyes and let the image of Erica giving me head in the car douse me in desire. It wasn't just about the act of her being so damn naughty that got me. It was the softness of her touch, the look of love in her eyes. This was far more than I was used to being involved in. It was unknown land, uncharted territory, and yet every part of her I'd seen - I adored.

Then why run?

I forced the question out of my mind. It was getting old. I had my reasons, and though no one on God's green earth understood them, they still stood. I'd try to explain myself to her once I got to Seattle, barring that she'd actually see me.

There was a good chance that I was outta luck. I hoped not, but anyone with sense in their head would have kicked me to the curb years ago. There’s only so much denial and rejection someone could take.

If Erica treated me the way I'd treated her, I'd never give her the time of day. Not to explain herself or apologize. No way.

"Mr. Bryant?" The flight attendant touched my shoulder, and I jumped, not realizing that I'd dipped so far into my subconscious.

"Sorry. I guess I fell asleep." I unbuckled, got up and grabbed my bag. "Did you guys call a car service for me before we left?"

The attendant nodded. "Of course. Your car should be waiting by the tarmac. A red Audi, just like you like."

"Perfect." I waited for the door of the plane to open and jogged down the stairs toward the car. My phone buzzed and I pulled it out to find Jonathan Lutz calling. It was as if he had a spy cam somewhere in the vicinity. "You got eyes everywhere?" I laughed and stopped by the car.

"No, I wish. Did you just get in town?"

"I did." I opened the door and got into the car. "I literally just walked off the plane."

"Then my timing is excellent."

"That it is." I buckled up and started the car, loving the purr of the engine. It reminded me of Erica, and my cock twitched, my pulse spiked. The woman was without a doubt the very core of my lust, and I was an idiot for denying her anything.

Grow up.

"I got the private showing set up for us. It'll be at De Luge two weeks from Friday. You'll need to be there at five at the latest."

"Two weeks. Damn... that's so soon." I pressed the gas and adjusted my mirrors as my lust turned to worry. There was no way I would have the picture of Erica done by then. Was I really ready to show the world my girl? Bared and nude, open for everyone to realize what an idiot I'd been?

"We said November. It starts Friday. I can look at moving it if-"

"No. I'm good. I was just trying to decide if I needed to do something big, flashy, stunning for the event. I'm not sure with two weeks I really have time for what I was working up to in the back of my mind." I reached up and ran my fingers through my hair as my heart contracted in my chest. It hurt to be in Seattle and not have her beside me. It was almost a travesty that my soul woke up to lament over.

"You're going to need something magnificent to impress these people. Where your portfolio is more than enough to catch the eye of the commoner, I went with Erica's suggestion and set the event up for ten grand as the entrance fee."

I swallowed hard. "What? Did anyone pay that? I'm not even known."

"Right, but your father is." Jonathan cleared his throat. "We have fifty people coming that night. Create something breathtaking. You have it in you."

"Breathtaking." My mind immediately went back to the portrait of my girl. "Erica."

"Yes!" Jonathan laughed. "You have been thinking about it. I had hoped I planted a seed in you that day. Put her on canvas, Matthew. She's impossibly beautiful. Show the world what you see."

"Okay. I'll talk to her, and if she agrees to it, I'll work night and day to get it done." Exhilaration rushed through me. I could do this.

"Good. Get it done. We'll talk soon. Let me know if you need anything at all."

"Yeah, thanks." I dropped the call and let my thoughts move all around the edges of what success felt like. My dream was to have an art gallery of my own where people from all over the world could come and appreciate the depths of emotion I painted in my pictures. The only thing that would have made it better was to have Erica's work next to mine.

Even if nothing worked out between us, I would force a friendship on her. She needed someone to encourage her to push toward her dreams, even part-time. She could hold down her job at my father's firm and still continue to pursue her heart. She had to. Without exploring her talent, she would grow cold, unmoved, numb.

I put a call into Damon's secretary, Linda. She picked up on the second ring.

"McKenzie and Bryant, Damon Bryant's office. How can I help you?" Always so damn chipper.

"Hey, Linda. This is Matt, Damon's brother."

"Hi, Matt. Did you make it to Seattle?"

"Sure did. Hey, could you e-mail that list of apartments in the art district that Erica sent over to you guys a few months back? I know Damon probably kept it just in case I finally made the trip up here and got serious about staying."

"Oh, yeah. He totally kept it. I'll find it and send it to your phone for you. Are you looking today?"

"Yep. Just got here. I need something really spacious and with lots of great light."

"You got it. Give me about twenty minutes to look at the listings and I'll have something to you."

I smiled. "Excellent. Thank you."

"Anytime."

We hung up and I turned to merge onto the freeway. I plugged the phone into the hands free device and pressed Erica's cell phone number, half expecting it to go to voicemail. This time I planned on leaving a message. She needed to know I was in town and wanted to talk to her - about the painting if nothing else.

"This is Erica." Her voice sent tendrils of pleasure racing through me, as if the woman were an aphrodisiac altogether.

"Erica. It's Matt. I just got into town. I'm headed to look at apartments, but I'd love to swing by the office and check in with you a little later if that'd be okay."

"Yeah, sure. I have meetings all day long, but feel free to wait in my office if I'm not around. Just check in with Joan, my secretary, and if you're waiting too long, she'll hunt me down."

"All right. I'll see you soon."

She hung up without a response. I sighed and tried to not get too down on myself. It wasn't going to be easy walking back into her life. She needed to know that I wasn't running again, and I had to be sure I could get over judging myself unworthy of her before I promised that.

My phone pinged a few minutes later and Linda had the listings for me, all of them looking great. Luckily enough, the first one I came to captivated my heart.

Much like the woman I hoped to share it with eventually.